Intelligent casino chip system and method or use thereof

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the game value is a non-denominational value.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein the game value is a denominational value.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the game value and class identity further includes the step of qualifying a player to receive a jackpot.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 further including the step of funding a bonus pool based on the presence of said second class casino chip.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the game value and class identity further includes the step of identifying said second class casino chip as a progressive wager.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the game value and class identity further includes the step of indicating that a player qualifies for both a live card game and a progressive game.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 wherein the received secondary signals also includes player identity, and further including the step of determining in the computer system the identity of the player based on said received secondary signals.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the game value and class identity occurs only during a time period.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 wherein the computer system uses the game value to issue a game signal corresponding to at least one of the following: incrementing a meter, funding a bonus pool, funding a promotion, triggering a device.

Claim 14

An intelligent casino chip system for differentiating and valuing two separate wagers in first and second classes of casino chips, said casino chip system comprising: at least one casino chip of a first class having a first transponder embedded therein, said first transponder at least containing value information; at least one casino chip of a second class having a second transponder embedded therein, said second transponder at least containing value and class information; a single game wager area for containing said at least one casino chip of said first class and said at least one casino chip of said second class; a receiver system located in the vicinity of said single game wager area for receiving said value information from said at least one first transponder, said receiver system determining a first wager value only from the value information received from said at least one first transponder; said receiver system further receiving said value and class information from said at least one second transponder, said receiver system determining a second wager value and identity based only on the value and class information received from said at least one second transponder, thereby differentiating and valuing said separate wagers when said first and second category casino chips are placed in said single game wager area.

Claim 15

An intelligent casino chip system for differentiating and valuing two separate wagers in first and second classes of casino chips, said casino chip system comprising: at least one casino chip of a first class having a first transponder embedded therein, said first transponder at least containing value information; at least one casino chip of a second class having a second transponder embedded therein, said second transponder at least containing value and class information; a single game wager area for containing said at least one casino chip of said first class and said at least one casino chip of said second class; a receiver system located in the vicinity of said single game wager area for receiving said value information from said at least one first transponder, said receiver system determining a first wager value only from the value information received from said at least one first transponder; said receiver system further receiving said value and class information from said at least one second transponder, said receiver system determining a second wager value and identity based only on the value and class information received from said at least one second transponder, thereby differentiating and valuing said separate wagers when said first and second category casino chips are placed in said single game wager area.

Claim 16

An intelligent casino chip system for differentiating and valuing two separate wagers in casino chips, said casino chip system comprising: at least one casino chip of a first class having a first transponder embedded therein, said first transponder at least containing value information; at least one casino chip of a second class having a second transponder embedded therein, said second transponder at least containing value and class information; a single game wager area for containing said at least one casino chip of said first class and said at least one casino chip of said second class; a receiver system located in the vicinity of said single game wager area for receiving said value information from said at least one first transponder, said receiver system determining a first wager value only from the value information received from said at least one first transponder; said receiver system further receiving said value and class information from said at least one second transponder, said receiver system determining a second wager value and identity based only on the value and class information received from said at least one second transponder, thereby differentiating and valuing said separate wagers when said first and second category casino chips are placed in said single game wager area wherein the second transponder further comprises: a memory having a datafield; an encrypted ID carried within said datafield for identifying said at least one second class casino chip as being of said second class.

Claim 17

An intelligent casino chip system for differentiating and valuing two separate wagers in casino chips, said casino chip system comprising: at least one casino chip of a first class having a first transponder embedded therein, said first transponder at least containing value information; at least one casino chip of a second class having a second transponder embedded therein, said second transponder at least containing value and class information; a single game wager area for containing said at least one casino chip of said first class and said at least one casino chip of said second class; a receiver system located in the vicinity of said single game wager area for receiving said value information from said at least one first transponder, said receiver system determining a first wager value only from the value information received from said at least one first transponder; said receiver system further receiving said value and class information from said at least one second transponder, said receiver system determining a second wager value and identity based only on the value and class information received from said at least one second transponder, thereby differentiating and valuing said separate wagers when said first and second category casino chips are placed in said single game wager area wherein the second transponder further comprises: a memory having a datafield; an encrypted ID carried within said datafield for identifying said at least one second class casino chip as being of said second class.

Claim 18

The intelligent casino chip system of claim 12 wherein said value and class information identifies said second class casino chip as a progressive wager.

Claim 19

The intelligent casino chip system of claim 12 wherein said value and class information identifies a player.

Claim 20

The intelligent casino chip system of claim 12 wherein said value and class information identifies a player as qualifying for both a live card game and a progressive game.

Claim 21

The intelligent casino chip system of claim 12 wherein said value and class information is denominational.

Claim 22

The intelligent casino chip system of claim 12 wherein said value and class information is nondenominational.

Claim 23

A casino chip system for differentiating and valuing two separate wagers intermingled in a stack of first and second classes of casino chips, said casino chip system comprising: at least one gaming table having at least one discrete player area, said at least one discrete player area further having a discrete betting area; at least one casino chip of a first class having a first transponder embedded therein, said first transponder at least containing value information; at least one casino chip of a second class having a second transponder embedded therein, said second transponder at least containing value and class information; a primary wager placed in said single, discrete betting area, said primary wager comprised of said at least one casino chip of said first class in the stack; a secondary wager intermingled with said primary wager in said single, discrete betting area, said secondary wager comprised of said at least one second class casino chip in the stack; a system located on said gaming table in the vicinity of said single, discrete betting area for receiving first transponder value signals from said first transponder and second transponder value and class signals from said second transponder; a computer connected to said system, said system delivering said received first transponder value signals and second transponder value and class signals to said computer, said computer determining a primary wager value from said at least one first transponder value signals and a secondary wager value and identity from said at least one second transponder value and class signals, thereby differentiating and valuing said separate wagers when said primary wager and said secondary wager are intermingled in said stack.

Claim 24

A casino chip system for differentiating and valuing two separate wagers intermingled in a stack of first and second classes of casino chips, said casino chip system comprising: at least one gaming table having at least one discrete player area, said at least one discrete player area further having a discrete betting area; at least one casino chip of a first class having a first transponder embedded therein, said first transponder at least containing value information; at least one casino chip of a second class having a second transponder embedded therein, said second transponder at least containing value and class information; a primary wager placed in said single, discrete betting area, said primary wager comprised of said at least one casino chip of said first class in the stack; a secondary wager intermingled with said primary wager in said single, discrete betting area, said secondary wager comprised of said at least one second class casino chip in the stack; a system located on said gaming table in the vicinity of said single, discrete betting area for receiving first transponder value signals from said first transponder and second transponder value and class signals from said second transponder; a computer connected to said system, said system delivering said received first transponder value signals and second transponder value and class signals to said computer, said computer determining a primary wager value from said at least one first transponder value signals and a secondary wager value and identity from said at least one second transponder value and class signals, thereby differentiating and valuing said separate wagers when said primary wager and said secondary wager are intermingled in said stack.

Claim 25

The intelligent casino chip system of claim 19 further comprising: a plurality of gaming tables; and an interface at each of said plurality of gaming tables for linking each of said plurality of gaming tables, wherein said value and class information is denominational.